Hustling to get a business off the ground requires so much of your attention and time. The number of details involved in launching a startup and running a company is overwhelming enough, without the added struggle of making sure your content is front and center of the majorly overloaded internet marketing scene. You’ve probably already dished out a handsome sum to get a decent website and may even be paying a content curator to run your social media if you haven’t already done those things yourself. Yet, even with content pumping out and a great website built for funneling leads, if you aren’t seen on Google, all of your hard work will get lost in the abyss of the internet with no one to appreciate it. We’re all about empowering your company’s growth, which is why I put together a handful of tips you can begin implementing today to strengthen your SEO game and start making your way to Google’s front page.
Set your site up for success.
Having an eye-catching, trendy website is cool and all, but there are specific things Google is looking for that have very little to do with design and a lot to do with user experience. Google wants to know you’ve created a website that users will want to come back to multiple times and will quickly provide information they are looking for in an efficient, user-friendly approach. The first thing you should do, if you haven’t already, is submit an updated sitemap to Google Search Console. This is important because it makes it so much easier for Google to crawl and index your web pages, which leads to a higher ranking in its algorithm. For all of our fellow WordPress users, there’s a handy dandy plugin you can use to quickly generate a sitemap called Google XML Sitemaps. The plugin is free, and it automatically updates the sitemap as you make alterations to your site. Who could ask for anything better?
The faster your site’s loading speed, the better.
Once you have a sitemap locked and loaded, test out your site loading speed. Oh yeah, this matters big time. Google has a resource called PageSpeed Insights where it rates your loading speed between the zero and one hundred. Keep your expectations reasonable, as maxing out at a perfect score may not be very likely. But take into consideration ways you can improve your loading speed by reducing image sizes, using SVG files for graphics, and utilizing the Autoptomize plugin for WordPress. Your mobile loading speed is equally important, so don’t neglect to optimize your content for mobile users. Frequently test your site speed, make adjustments accordingly, and you will see improvement over time.
Integrate the Yoast Plugin
Let us introduce you to our little friend, Yoast, a brilliant plugin invented to help gauge your site’s SEO strength. Once you install the plugin, a new section will appear toward the bottom of every individual page on your site’s WordPress backend with fields to complete and a colorful icon indicating the page’s readability. When it comes to the icon color, green is good, red is not. The readability score is especially helpful for writing blog posts, providing tips on how to integrate keywords and suggesting ways to write strategically for both the reader and searchability. One thing to take into account is that Google is now scanning Blogs for readability content, not just content overloaded with keywords and backlinks. Write with your reader in mind while simultaneously using strategic keywords and links throughout to fully optimize your posts for search engines.
Leverage Social Media
Google isn’t the only method of being found these days, and with social media channels, you have so many more opportunities to capture users’ attention. Converting through organic search is fantastic, but you are more likely to catch leads through a multiplicity of sources than just by typing your business name into a search bar. Don’t just expect users to come to you, but give them every opportunity to encounter your brand by hanging out where they are every day. As of today, that place includes everything from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Reddit, and so on. You don’t have to take a shot in the dark by posting content on every single platform on the internet. Do some research to find out where your target audience is most likely to congregate and dive in. Consistency is key. You can’t assume by posting once a month you will gain traction with thousands of followers, and purchasing followers won’t help either. Stay consistent, post content users want to see and make sure you interact with them through conversation. People want to know there are real humans behind the profile, and you can prove that through your relatable post copy and responsiveness.
There is no magic formula that will guarantee your spot at the top of Google’s front page, especially if you find yourself in a highly competitive industry where other companies are pumping thousands of dollars into their SEO per month. Don’t get discouraged by trying to take on the whole mountain, but stay focused on what you can get started today. Take advantage of Google Search Console and the amazing analytics it provides so you can keep track of user patterns and how you can make your website even better. Understand your overall site health and make adjustments as needed. Remember to maximize your content with the reader in mind, and be present on social channels where your target audience likes to hang out. In the end, give it time, stay consistent, and you will succeed.